Euronews

Both are currently serving 90-day suspensions while the committee determine whether a 1.8 million euro payment made by outgoing FIFA president Blatter to vice-president and UEFA chief Platini in 2011 breached its code of ethics.

Platini’s lawyer Thibaud d’Ales described the idea of a life ban as a “scandal” and “excessive”.

The adjudicatory committee, led by German judge Hans Joachim Eckert, announced on Monday that it had opened proceedings after receiving the ethics committee’s recommendations.

The verdict is expected to be delivered next month.

FIFA’s investigative committee affirmed that the report with requested sanctions has been handed over to Platini and Blatter’s legal team.

Platini had officially announced his candidature to replace Blatter as President of football’s world governing body with the elections scheduled to take place on February 26.

But, due to his ban the 60-year old former France captain is forbidden to campaign or take any part in the race.

He is one of five official candidates hoping to replace Blatter, who has been in the role for 18 years.